….Oshoala, Moffi also on target
A weekend of celebration for Osimhen, Oshoala after their league triumphs. Ebenezer Bajela and Adewale Abiodun take a look at how other Nigerians performed in Europe
ITALY
Victor Osimhen (Napoli)
Osimhen saw one penalty saved before scoring another as Napoli marked their Scudetto celebrations with a 1-0 win against Fiorentina amid a carnival atmosphere.
Having ended a 33-year wait to win Serie A on Thursday, Luciano Spalletti’s men were greeted by a jubilant crowd at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but two much-changed lineups made for a low-key opening.
Luciano Spalletti’s side were awarded a penalty just three minutes after the restart, the 24-year-old stepped up to take his first penalty kick for Napoli but failed to score.
He however made up for his first miss as the champions were awarded another penalty in the 74th minute and the Nigerian this time fired the ball into the net, sending goalkeeper, Pietro Terracciano, the wrong way.
The striker was substituted three minutes after and was given a standing ovation by both the fans and the technical crew.
Osimhen has now scored 23 goals in 28 Serie A games this season to cement his position as the league’s top scorer.
Okereke, Dessers (Cremonese)
David Okereke was involved for 72 minutes in Cremonese’s 2-0 win over Spezia, as the club continues its pursuit of safety.
The Nigerian was however not among the scorers as Daniel Ciofani and Johan Vasquez scored both goals which moved Cremonese three points within safety.
His compatriot, Cyril Dessers was not listed for the game due to injury.
Okereke still has even goals and two assists so far in 30 Serie A appearances.
FRANCE
Bonke Innocent (Lorient)
The midfielder kept his place in the starting lineup following an impressive performance last week that saw Lorient beat PSG 3-2 away from home.
Regis Le Bris named the Nigerian in his squad that beat Brest 2-1 at the Stade du Moustoir on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was replaced in the 57th minute by Jean-Victor Makengo.
Moses Simon (Nantes)
Simon started from the bench as Nantes suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Strasbourg on Sunday.
The winger came on in the 75th minute for Ludovic Blas but could not do anything as fans at Stade de la Beaujoire watched as the hosts went down and dropped to 17th on the log.
Terem Moffi (Nice)
Moffi scored his 17th goal of the season and his fifth for OGC Nice in their 2-1 win over Rennes.
Moffi doubled the advantage for Nice in the 72nd minute after Gaetan Laborde had opened the scoring in the 50th minute.
Benjamin Bourigeaud pulled one back for Rennes minutes later.
After the win, Nice are eight points adrift of a UEFA Conference League position with just four games remaining.
Folarin Balogun (Reims)
Balogun could not add to his 18 goals tally on Saturday but Reims recorded a 1-0 win over Lille. Marshall Munetsi scored the only goal in the first half.
Balogun was on for 82 minutes before being replaced by Mohammed Toure.
Josh Maja (Bordeaux)
Maja proved decisive for Girondins Bordeaux, assisting the winning goal in their hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Caen on Saturday.
Imuran, Demehin (Stade Reims Féminines)
Rofiat Imuran scored her first goal and also assisted another in Stade Reims Féminines 5-0 rout of Le Havre Féminines in the French women’s first division.
Deployed in the front three of a 4-3-3 formation, Imuran showed her versatility by assisting Melchie Dumornay for the first goal after the resumption of the second half.
Dumornay then returned the favour in the 54th minute, as Imuran’s left-footed shot from close range found the top right corner for Reim’s second goal.
An own goal by Kelly Gadea and Dumornay’s brace took the score line to 4-0, before Shana Chossenotte, who replaced Imuran late on in the game rounded up the scoring.
Imuran’s compatriot, Tosin Demehin was an unused substitute in the game.
Eredivisie
Bobby Adekanye (Go Ahead Eagles)
Adekanye made his 27th league appearance of the season as Go Ahead Eagles played a 1-1 draw against FC Groningen at De Adelaarshorst on Sunday.
The 24-year-old was in action for 90 minutes before he came off for Dario Serra in the additional minutes.
Adekanye has a 10-goal contribution (six goals and four assists) for the Dutch side this season.
Calvin Bassey (Ajax)
Bassey was an unused substitute as Ajax played a goalless draw against AZ Alkmaar at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Saturday.
The left-back was handed a rare start in the club’s 3-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven last weekend after he was not called upon in their three previous games.
Manager John Heitinga left the Nigerian on the bench for the entire 90 minutes with Jorrel Hato preferred in his stead.
ENGLAND
Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Midfielder, Onyeka, was on for 72 minutes as Brentford were pipped 1-0 by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
The defeat leaves Brentford in 9th place with 50 points as they continue their pursuit of European football next season.
Onyeka has now featured 18 times for the Bees this season with two assists to his name.
Olise, Eze (Crystal Palace)
The duo Michael Olise and Ebere Eze were both in action for the entire duration of the game as Crystal Palace were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspurs.
Both players were impressive in the encounter but were condemned by Haary Kane’s strikes that condemned the Eagles to their 15th defeat of the season.
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)
Striker, Solanke was on for 90 minutes but couldn’t make much impact as his Bournemouth side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at home to Chelsea.
He was substituted in the 90th minute for David Brooks.
Solanke could not add to his six goals tally in 29 games this season.
Noni Madueke (Chelsea)
After scoring his first Chelsea goal in midweek, youngster Madueke kept his place in the Blues starting lineup against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Madueke was however not among the goal scorers as Chelsea recorded their first win after a six-game losing streak.
Spain
Kenneth Omeruo (Leganes)
Omeruo made a cameo appearance in Leganes’ 2-1 win over Huesca at the Estadio Butarque in the LaLiga Smartbank on Saturday.
The defender was brought on in the 90th minute for Yvan Neyou.
The one minute of action by the 29-year-old was his 19th appearance of the season for the Spanish club.
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
Oshoala doubled the champions’ lead after Patricia Guijjaro had given them the lead just after 21 minutes as Barcelona beat Real Sociedad 5-2 away from home.
The strike is Nigerian’s 21st goal of the season, putting her third on the scorer chart, three goals behind Levante’s Alba Redondo.
She was however treated to a standing ovation after she was substituted for Alexia Putellas.
Charity Adule (Alhama)
Adule was in action as Alhana suffered a 6-2 defeat to Madrid CFF in the LaLiga Femenina on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was substituted for Nerea Fernández as Juan Martínez watched his side humiliated in the capital city.
Turkey
Henry Onyekuru (Adana Demirspor)
Onyekuru continued his fine for Adana Demirspor as the forward grabbed an assist in their 4-2 win over Alanyaspor in the Turkish league on Saturday.
The 25-year-old was on target as Adana beat Kayserispor 5-3 on matchday 31 and also set up Younes Belhanda for the second goal this weekend.
so far this season, he has scored seven goals and contributed three assists for the Turkish side.
Belgium
Boniface, Onyedika (Union, Brugge)
Victor Boniface was on target, scoring a sublime goal in the 41st minute as Royale Union Saint-Gilloise beat Club Brugge 2-1 Brugge at the Jan Breydelstadion.
The forward opened the scoring for the visitors before Lazare Amani doubled the lead just a minute into the start of the second half.
Raphael Onyedika put up an impressive display and was solid in the midfield but couldn’t do much as his compatriot inspired Union to a win. The midfielder was booked in the 51st minute.
Gift Orban (Gent)
In-form Orban once again was on target for Gent in the Belgian Pro League, scoring in the 31st minute as the visitors claimed an impressive 2-1 away win against Standard Liege.
The 20-year-old displayed his precision and nearly grabbed a second goal straight from kick-off in the second half but his audacious effort crashed off the cross-bar.
